Two New Records of Dimeria R. Br. (Poaceae) from Kerala

Int J Plant Anim Environ Sci 2020; 10 (3): 127-134

Research Article

T Shaju1,*, M P Rijuraj1,2, A Rasiya Beegam1, M Rajendraprasad1,2, M K Ratheesh Narayanan3

1Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden & Research Institute, Palode, Karimancode P.O., Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, 695562, India 2University of Kerala, Palayam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, 695034, India 3Department of Botany, Payyannur College, Edat P.O., Kannur, Kerala, 670327, India

*Corresponding Author: T Shaju, Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden & Research Institute, Palode, Karimancode P.O., Thiruvananthapuram, 695562, Kerala, India; E-mail: [email protected]

Received: 30 May 2020; Accepted: 11 June 2020; Published: 13 July 2020

Citation: T Shaju, M P Rijuraj, A Rasiya Beegam, M Rajendraprasad, M K Ratheesh Narayanan. Two New Records of Dimeria R. Br. (Poaceae) from Kerala. International Journal of Plant, Animal and Environmental Sciences 10 (2020): 127-134.

Abstract tropical and subtropical regions of the world. In India Dimeria gracilis Nees ex Steud. and D. hohenackeri the genus is confined to Peninsular India and subsp. kodaguensis Kiran Raj, Sivad & Dileep have represented by about 34 species, four subspecies and been recorded for the first time from the State of Kerala. one variety [2, 3] of which 27 species, four subspecies Detailed description with relevant notes, illustrations and one variety are occurring in the Western Ghats [2, and photographs are provided. 4]. Among them 23 species, four subspecies and one variety found in Kerala. Key words: Taxonomy; Poaceae; Dimeria; Lateritic While carrying out floral analysis of the lateritic hillocks; Kerala hillocks of northern Kerala, the authors came across Introduction few interesting specimens of Dimeria collected from Kannur and Kasaragod districts. On critical The genus Dimeria R. Br. comprises about 65 species observation, two specimens of the genus, showed worldwide [1]. They are mainly distributed in the distinct morphological variation from the species International Journal of Plant, Animal and Environmental Sciences Vol. 10 No. 3 – September 2020 127

Int J Plant Anim Environ Sci 2020; 10 (3): 127-134 described so far from the region. After a detailed 3-11, slender, ca. 12cm long, lax-flowered, peduncle examination they are identified as Dimeria gracilis long exerted from spatheole, glabrous, raceme rachis Nees ex Steud., a species found in Sri Lanka and South tough, glabrous filiform, bearing pedicelled spikeletes, India (Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka) and Dimeria one to a node, rachis internode ca. 4mm long, pedicels hohenackeri subsp. kodaguensis Kiran Raj, Sivad & clavate, 2.5mm long, spikeletes 5.5-6mm long (incl. Dileep an endemic taxon found in Kudagu district of callus) callus short, cuneate 0.5mm long, densely Karnataka. bearded, lower glume linear oblong, 5.5-6mm x 1- 2mm, acute, shortly aristate at apex, chartaceous, Dimeria gracilis Nees ex Steud., was first described by hyaline ciliate margins, covered all over the surface E. G. Steudal in Synopsis Plantarum Glumacearum in with white hairs, upper glume oblong-acute, 5-6mm 1885 based on a specimen from ‘Ceylon’: s. dat., long, coriaceous, tip aristate, hyaline margins shortly Macrae 229 (LE) and later by [5-7]. In India the species ciliate, keel rounded, scabrid and covered with fairly mainly distributed in Maharashtra and Karnataka [6, 8- ciliate on all along the keel, with a few long cilia 15]. So the present collection of the species shows towards the aristate tip, wing less, Lower floret empty, extended distribution and new record from the lateritic lemma lanceolate, 1.5-3mm long, hyaline, short hyaline region of Kumbla in Kasaragod district in Kerala. hairs along the margin, upper floret bisexual, lemma linear oblong, 4mm long, cleft at tip in to 2 acute or Dimeria hohenackeri Hochst. ex Miq., an endemic obtuse lobes, hyaline with few hairs at the top, awned species of south India is confined to the states of in the cleft, awn 9-10mm long, coloumn brownish, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala. Recently [3] 4mm long, twisted. Lower lemma hyaline, described a new subspecies of D. hohenackeri from oblanceolate, 3.5mm long, 1-nerved, shortly bifid at Kodagu district of Karnataka and named as D. apex, cuneate towards base, ciliate on the margins hohenackeri subsp. kodaguensis Kiran Raj, Sivad & above the middle; upper lemma hyaline, linear oblong, Dileep., which was confined to the type locality only. 1-nerved, bifid with acute lobes at apex, awned from In such backdrop, reporting the subspecies from the the sinus; awn up to 12mm long with a column up to lateritic hillock of Madayipara in Kannur district of 4mm long and scaberulous; palea absent; lodicules 2, northern Kerala forms its extended distribution and new hyaline. Stamens 2. Style 2; stigma plumose. Grain record to the State. oblong- elliptic.

Taxonomic Treatments Flowering & Fruiting: November-January. Dimeria gracilis Nees ex Steud., [5-13, 15-18]. Type: “Ceylon”: s. dat., Macrae 229 (LE). Habitat: It is gregariously growing in wet areas of seasonal water channel near the slopes of lateritic Perennials, Culms tufted, up to 90cm tall, glabrous, hillock. The associated species are Ischaemum indicum striate, nodes ciliate, lamina with stiff whitish hairs, (Houtt.) Merr., Heteropogon contortus (L.) P. Beauv. ligule short membraneous, ciliate, blades linear, ex Roem. & Schult., Eulalia trispicata (Schult.) narrowed at base, glabrous or sparsely covered with Henrard, Rhynchospora wightiana (Nees) Steud. etc. whitish hairs, plicate, long acuminate at apex. Racemes

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Figure 1: Dimeria gracilis Nees ex Steud., a. Habitat, b. Habit (Inset), c. Leaf base, d. Raceme, e. A portion of rachis with pedicels, f. Callus, Anther, Glume, Upper lemma with awn, g. Kew Image (K000245775).

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Figure 2: Dimeria gracilis Nees ex Steud., a. Habit, b. Leaf base with ligule, c. Inflorescence, d. A portion of rachis with pedicels, e. Spikelets, f. Upper glume, g. Lower glume, h. Upper lemma with awn, i. Lodicules, j. Stamen.

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Distribution: India: Maharashtra, Karnataka and along the keel towards apex; glumes not widely Kerala (present collection) and Sri Lanka. divergent during anthesis. Lower floret empty; lower lemma very hyaline oblanceolate, c. 1.5mm long, single Specimen Examined: India, Kerala: Kasaragod veined, margin ciliate. Upper floret bisexual; upper District, Kumbla, Ananthapura, 12035.027’ N, lemma elliptic, 2.5-3.0mm long, bifid at apex, lobes 74059.175’ E, ± 100 m, October 2018, Shaju & Rijuraj, acute, sub-hyaline, awned from the sinus, awn up to 11 77585 (TBGT). Sri Lanka, August 1889, Thwaites, C.V mm long with a dark twisted c. 3.0mm long column; 3863 (K000245775 image seen!). palea lanceolate, c. 0.5mm long, hyaline; lodicules 2, small, truncate, apically toothed. Stamens 2; anthers Dimeria Hohenackeri Hochst. ex Miq. subsp. 1.5mm long, yellowish brown. Ovary oblong; styles 2; Kodaguensis [3]: stigmas plumose. Grain c. 0.2mm long, oblong-elliptic, slightly compressed, hilum basal, linear-punctiform; Type: India, Karnataka: Kodagu Dist., Chettalli, on the embryo about 1/3th the length of grain, without epiblast way to Madikeri from Siddapura, 3 December 2002, and with a scutellate tail. Kiran Raj CU 92982 (Holotype: CALI !; Isotype: KFRI !). Flowering & Fruiting: November- December.

Annuals, Culms procumbent, 15-30cm length, crowded Distribution: Endemic to the Western Ghats region: at base and mat forming, nodes bearded, leaves Karnataka and Kerala (present collection). confined to the base of the culm. Sheath shorter than internodes. Ligule membraneous, truncate and Habitat & Ecology: Growing small populations in fimbriate at apex. Leaves linear-acuminate, 3-5 x 0.2- shallow bogs on the lateritic rock surface of Madayipara 0.4cm, acuminate at apex, rounded at base. Racemes 2- in Kannur District, Kerala. The associated species in the 4, sub-digitate, 4-6mm long; rachis teret or angled, community are Arundinella cannanorica V. J. Nair et. glabrous. Pedicelled Spikelets alternately arranged; al., Fimbristylis ovata (Burm. f.) J. Kern, Murdania pedicels c.1mm long, lip cupiliform, glabrous; each semiteres Sant. etc. raceme with 15-20 spikelets. Spikelets linear oblong, 3.5-4mm long, callus short densely bearded. Lower Specimens Examined: India, Kerala: Kannur District, glume coriaceous, oblong, acuminate 3-3.5mm long, Madayipara, 12001’ 98.7’’ N, 74015’ 73.3’’ E, ± 45 m, rounded and keeled towards apex, not winged, slightly November 2019, Shaju & Rijuraj, 96031 (TBGT); hairy along the keel towards apex, margins hyaline. India, Karnataka: Kodagu Dist., Chettalli, on the way to Upper glume coriaceous, linear-acuminate, 3.5-4.0mm Madikeri from Siddapura, 3 Dec 2002, Kiran Raj CU long and 1.0-1.5mm wide, compressed, straight on 92982 (Holotype: CALI !; Isotype: KFRI !). back, keeled at apical, not winged, few long bristly hairs

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Figure 3: D. hohenackeri Hochst. ex Miq. subsp. kodaguensis Kiran Raj, Sivad. & Dileep, a. Habitat, b. Habit, c. Spikelets, d. Lower glume & Upper lemma, e. Base of plant.

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Figure 4: D. hohenackeri Hochst. ex Miq. subsp. kodaguensis Kiran Raj, Sivad. & Dileep, a. Habit, b. Spikelets, c. A portion of rachis with pedicels, d. Lower glume, e. Upper glume, f. Upper lemma with awn, g. Lower lemma.

Acknowledgements providing constant help and encouragement in research Authors are grateful to the Director, Jawaharlal Nehru activities and second author thankful to University of Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram. (JNTBGRI), Palade, Thiruvananthapuram for

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